Junior Grand Prix at Rogue Racing - 2009
7th November:
Geri has already won the 2009 championship, but that doesn't mean he will let up on winning the final two rounds, he wants to end the year with 9 Grand Prix wins, the same as in 2008.
14 entrants for the November round including a newcomer, Dylan D. And now it was officially winter, it was very cold inside the Rogue Racing building.
Heat one, Matthew Hopcraft on pole from Geri, Dylan D, Tom Holland, Carl Donnellan and Thomas Row. Geri covered the inside line going into the first corner and followed Matthew round, passing him for the lead as they came round the left hander at the end of the first lap. New boy Dylan was struggling and had fallen from 3rd to 6th by lap 2. When Geri came up behind Dylan near the end of lap 5, Dylan drove forwards straight into the tyres. Tom had closed up on Matthew but by lap 8 Thomas and Carl joined in to make up a 4 kart train with Geri way out front. Geri finished the race by lapping Dylan again just as he crossed the line and with a best lap of just 28.13 from Matthew (28.90), Tom (29.05), Thomas (28.51), Carl (28.83) and Dylan (31.73). Dylan withdrew after this race.
Heat two - Thomas Row on pole from Daniel Truman, Will Barker, Carl Donnellan, Alex Milton and Jordan Donegan. Jordan was flying and moved up to 4th on the first lap and was climbing all over the back of Will trying to find a way past. But it all went wrong on lap 4 when Jordan crashed out and fell back to 6th. Thomas was sitting out front with Daniel trying everything to get by. Jordan caught back up with Alex who spun on lap 7 but blocked Jordan off from passing him, leaving them in 5th and 6th places. Daniel dived inside Thomas as they rounded the final corner and pushed Thomas out of the way, but the race was stopped and Thomas (28.45) allowed to take the chequered flag from Daniel (28.36), Will (28.92), Carl (29.24), Alex (29.85) and Jordan (28.56).
Heat three and Geri was back out. Jordan Donegan was on pole from Callum Bradley, Matthew Hopcraft, Alex Milton, Geri and Sam Conn. Callum got off the line well and looked to have taken the lead, but Jordan finished the first lap in the lead while Geri ended lap 1 still in 5th place. Coming down the ramp on the second lap, Geri moved up into 4th place passing Alex on the inside, 4th became 3rd by the end of the lap as Jordan crashed out again and down into 6th place. Callum was getting away up front while Geri was unable to pass Matthew. On lap 9 at the bottom of the down ramp, Geri went inside Matthew, but Matthew turned across Geri and ended up in the tyre wall. Another kart (Alex) had stopped at the start of the top straight and the red light came on. From the restart, Callum (28.82) crossed the line first while Geri (28.88) was told to let Matthew (28.82) through for second having been blamed for the incident on lap 9. Jordan (28.66) had recovered to 4th from Sam (29.66) and Alex (29.65).
Heat four, and Geri was out again meaning he could sit out the final heats and see where he came. Sam Conn was on pole from Luke Doig, Thomas Row, Geri, Daniel Truman and Harry Macaulay. Geri was in kart 23, the one which was withdrawn last month. It would later be withdrawn again, ironically after Sam complained it was bad in heat 6! Geri got by Thomas at the end of the first straight and then went straight inside Luke to move into second place. Luke crashed as he ran out of track but remained in third a bit behind Sam and Geri up front. Thomas was 4th but a long way back from Luke. Geri couldn't get past Sam and by lap 5 Luke had caught up with them again. On lap 7 Luke went inside Geri pushing Geri into Sam and all three karts crashed - and resumed in the same positions, but Thomas, Daniel and Harry closed up on the front three. Sam and Geri had got away from Luke but Luke closed up again on lap 9. The front five crossed the line just seconds apart while Harry crashed on the final lap coming off the bottom straight. Sam (29.01) held off Geri (28.90) with Luke (28.65), Thomas (28.74) and Daniel (28.55) close behind, Harry (29.89) trailing in last after his crash. All three heats run and Geri only had 21 points!
Heat five, Harry Macaulay on pole from Tom Holland, Jordan Donegan, Daniel Truman and Callum Bradley. Harry got away well but crashed out of the lead on the final corner of the first lap, the order now being Jordan, Tom, Daniel, Callum, Harry. The front four were running together throughout the race until the final lap when another crash spread out the karts. Jordan (29.06) won from Daniel (28.51), Tom (29.15), Callum (28.82) and Harry (29.79).
Heat six, Dylan was due to be on pole but had withdrawn leaving Carl Donnellan on pole from Sam Conn, Callum Bradley, Luke Doig and Will Barker. Luke passed Callum at the end of the bottom straight on lap one. Callum attempted to repass Luke but they span out and Callum was black flagged as a result. Carl was leading on lap 2 well clear from Sam, Luke and Will with a big gap back to Callum. Carl was 5 seconds clear on lap 4 while Luke and Will were right on Sam's tail, both going by Sam on lap 5. Luke was gaining about 0.5 seconds a lap but Carl's lead was big enough to hold on for the win. Carl (28.50) won from Luke (28.05 - new FTD!), Will (28.08), Sam (29.67) and Callum (28.37).
Heat seven. Going into this heat Geri was on 21 points from Daniel and Thomas on 18. Matthew on 14 and Luke on 13 still had the final heat to go, so could move into contention. Will Barker was on pole from Alex Milton, Harry Macaulay, Luke Doig, Tom Holland and Matthew Hopcraft. Luke passed Harry for 3rd at the end of the top straight while Will was already well clear of Alex who was second. Tom was climbing all over Luke and it wasn't long before the last 5 karts were running nose to tail. On lap three Matthew and Harry crashed allowing Luke to move up into second place, Matthew dropping to 6th. Luke was gaining on Wil the gap was 2 seconds on lap 6, but a 27.55 lap (0.5 faster than previous FTD) on lap 7 brough Luke right up behind Will. Luke kept Will under pressure which finally told on the last lap as Luke got by Will at the end of the top straight. Luke (27.55) won from Will (28.27), Tom (28.23), Alex (29.54), Harry (29.14) and Matthew (28.17).
Luke was now level with Geri on 21 points but headed the leaderboard by virtue of fastest lap. Will was third on 19 from Tom, Daniel and Thomas on 18 points.
Semi final one, Luke Doig on pole from Will Barker, Daniel Truman, Matthew Hopcraft, Carl Donnellan and Jordan Donegan. Will made a slow start which allowed Daniel by, but Will got back past before the end of the first lap, Luke out in front. Luke was already 3 seconds clear by lap 2, and 4 ahead by lap 5 while Will was just a second ahead of the 3 kart battle for 3rd. Daniel spun on lap 6 and went down to 5th place, Carl was now down to 6th leaving Jordan to chase Matthew for 3rd place and the last slot in the final. Luke was now seven seconds ahead on lap 9 as the yellows came on when Jordan crashed (again) and fell back to last. Luke (28.00) went on to win by 9 seconds from Will (28.21), Matthew (27.97), Daniel (27.85), Carl (28.08) and Jordan (28.53).
Semi final two, Geri on pole from Tom Holland, Thomas Row, Callum Bradley, Sam Conn and Alex Milton. Geri would have to beat Luke's FTD if he wanted to secure pole for the final. Geri got a flyer and was 2 seconds ahead after the first lap. Sam spun on the first lap bringing out the yellows. Thomas was bumping Tom on lap 3, Callum was just a second behind the pair in 4th place. By lap 5, Geri was 5 seconds clear while Tom, Thomas and Callum were running close together. By lap 8, Geri's lead was up to 6 seconds and he was running in the 27s now, while Tom, Thomas and Callum were still running nose to tail. A yellow on lap nine spread out the second to fourth karts, Geri was gaining fast on 6th placed Alex. Lap 11 would be his last chance to beat the FTD as he would catch Alex on the final lap. Geri duly came through with 27.46 on lap 11 to secure pole for the final, then he just followed Alex across the line to ensure he didn't get caught up in a last lap incident. Geri (27.46) won by 10 seconds from Tom (28.22), Thomas (27.97), Callum (28.32), Sam (29.05) and Alex (29.26).
The final - Geri on pole from Luke Doig, Will Barker, Tom Holland, Matthew Hopcraft and Thomas Row. Matthew got past Tom from the start but Tom held on to remain 4th at the end of the first lap. Geri got away fast and was 2 seconds clear of Luke and Will on lap 2 and pulling away at a second per lap with a string of 27s laps. Luke finally broke free of Will on lap 7 but Geri was still piling on the pressure with 27.47 on lap 9 and 27.49 on the final lap. Geri (27.47) won by 12 seconds from Luke (28.04), Will (28.04), Tom (27.92), Matthew (27.95) and Thomas (28.60).
Geri has now won 8 races in 2009 with one round still to go.
Send comments to: webmaster@nyssaracing.com 
